THE CEO'S BRIDE

CHAPTER 4 -THE BARGAIN

"I should have known,I have to go,"Ivy muttered and turned to go.

Aaron reached out quickly and stopped her,he wasn't going to let her slip away like the last time.

"Ivy,wait...we need to talk,what's wrong with your mother?"Aaron asked her.

She snatched her hand away and gave him a cold look,her eyes clouded with tears,"It's none of your business,Aaron...I don't think I'd be needing a job here anymore "

Aaron tried to say something,tried to stop her but she walked away quickly and then broke into a run.

Aaron felt as if a stone had been placed in his stomach,he sighed and turned back to the receptionist who quickly lowered her head to her file.

"Get back to work"He muttered...

It was two weeks since he saw Ivy,Aaron sat in his office, his mind in a merry-go-round of thoughts. He was already stressed with thoughts about the whole marriage issue, the inheritance, everything.

He thought about Ivy,she had turned down his offer of working for him,he knew she was the type of lady he needed,the type of lady he had hoped for.

She was from a small family background which no one would want to bother looking into and she lived a free,simple life...that was it!

Just for a few months or probably years until he had secured his father's trust and most importantly,his inheritance.

Bingo!

He drew in a deep breath,he knew she never wanted to have anything to do with him,he knew that she hated him but what do he have to do to get her to agree to play the role of his wife.

He considered the idea,he overheard her talking about her mother's sickness...what if he gave her an offer she wasn't going to be able to refuse?

He needed to go back to look for her,he had no time left, else he'd lose everything he had worked so hard for.

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The machine in the hospital continued to beep continuously,the hospital room smelt of antiseptic and something else that made Ivy sick.

"Stop it, Ivy" Susann said, her voice almost a whisper, “I'll be fine, isn't that what the doctor said?"

"You'll be fine only after your operation, that's what it's looking like" Ivy's voice choked with stifled tears.

"I'll be fine," She said again, more like convincing herself than telling her daughter.

“But where do I raise $100,000 from..where do I even start?" Tears trickled down her reddened cheeks.

Susanne smiled weakly,"Don't worry,ivy. I believe soon all this will be over and you wouldn't have to worry about anything ever again"

Ivy looked down at her palm,tears stinging at the side of her eyes,"I don't want anything to happen to you,mum. You know it's just you I've got in the whole world...no one is willing to help,this world is just so wicked"

"Ivy,please stop. I don't want to see you sad, "Susanne told her.

"But how are we going to raise such an amount in a short time,why is everything just so different? Why can't we ever be happy even if it's for a minute?"

"I'll foot the bills," A voice said suddenly at the door.

Wait, she recognized that voice…

Both mother and daughter turned in unison to the door. Ivy's eyes widened in surprise behind her glasses. Aaron ?

"I'll foot your mother's bills.” He repeated, his eyes not leaving her face, searching.

Mother and daughter were dumbfounded.

Ivy turned to look at her mother and then at him.

She excused herself and went out with Aaron,she didn't want her mother to know who he was .

"What are you doing here and how did you know where I'd be?"She asked him, folding her arms across her chest.

"That's not important,Ivy. We need to talk , please"He whispered.

"There's nothing to talk about,Aaron. Whatever that happened between us in the past was nothing, okay? So why can't you let me be?"

"I searched for you,Ivy. Believe me,I did but you were nowhere to be found. I don't know why you don't want to see me anymore but I need a favor from you"He told her.

"What favor?"She asked

"I want you to be my wife"He said after some time.

“You can't be serious," Ivy blurted out.

"I’m afraid I am," Aaron said.

“I have nothing less than three weeks to finalize my marriage plans, for the will to be r******w tell me, how can't I be serious?"

“I can't, I'm sorry. I just can't" She vehemently refused.

“I'll pay up your mother's bills plus I'll pay you $10,000 weekly till the will is read. I'll get you a house somewhere in the city where you'd move to after our arrangement elapses and spice you up with a little something"

“This just doesn't make sense," She told him.

“Let me worry about that," He retorted.

"But we didn't even date. The press would be suspicious, everyone would" She said

“You need the money, don't you?...I'll take care of everything. Just play your part as my bride"

Ivy thought about it. Her mother's health was her priority right now.What was she going to do?He was going to pay for her mother's surgery and she could also get a donor.

“I would still need some time to think about it,” She said quietly.

“What have I been giving you these past few minutes?” He snapped at her. “I don't have any time to waste and I believe the same goes for you so get on with your decision.”

Ivy looked away. He wasn't even trying to act nice even if they both needed something from each other.

She looked back at him, folding her arms over her chest as she felt a s***h of cold rush into her. Whatever decision she will make, it would be for the best.

Finally, she took in a long, deep breath and gave him one word.